April 2013 Archive

27
Apr
2013
jloomis

Last Snowmobile Ride of 2012/13 Season on Mt Saint Helens

Picture of Snowmobiling on SE Side of Mount Saint Helens, Washington

My dad, Steve, drove up from Reno, NV to visit for the weekend. I had been trying to get him to come up for a snowmobile trip for the past few weeks, but weather and timing didn't line up until this weekend. Unfortunately the warmer than usual temperatures and less-than-average snow pack limited our snowmobiling options. I didn't want to drive all the way to Central Oregon, so we decided to try out Mt Saint Helens. From other reports it sounded like there was still enough snow to snowmobile out of Marble Mountain Sno-Park on the South side of Mount Saint Helens.

21
Apr
2013
jloomis

Hiking up Dog Mountain, Washington on a Cold Spring Day

Picture of Dog Mountain Trailhead, Washington

Spring is here and Katie and I decided to go on our first non-snow hike of the year on Sunday. We had driven by the Dog Mountain trailhead the weekend before en route to Mt Adams and thought it might be a fun hike to try. The trailhead is just East of mile post 53 on Hwy 14. It's about 55 miles East of Vancouver, Washington across the Columbia River from Mt Defiance. The trail is marked as 3.8 miles one-way, but is probably closer to 3 miles. It's a fairly steep trail, gaining over 2,800 feet to the summit. There are a couple different route options to keep things interesting.

17
Apr
2013
jloomis

La Sportiva Trango S EVO GTX Mountaineering Boot Review

Product Rating: 
5
Picture of La Sportiva Trango S EVO GTX Mountaineering Boot

Features:

From La Sportiva, "Light and fast this boot makes you feel like a wood nymph bounding through the mountains. All synthetic and designed for spider-like alpine climbing performance; it is waterproof and ready for a semi-automatic crampon. The Vibram® Mulaz outsole, has an edging platform and sticky Supertrek Rubber. The 3D Flex™ ankle provides supreme ankle maneuverability for technical routes."

The Trago S EVO GTX by La Sportiva is an ultra-light 3-season alpine climbing boot. Features a fully-gusseted and padded tongue and full rubber rand.

14
Apr
2013
jloomis

Last Snowmobile Ride of the Season from Skyline Sno-Park

Picture of Little Snow for Snowmobiling out of Skyling Sno-Park

I am stubborn, as most would attest to, and not willing to give up on winter yet. I took my friend Ryan snowmobiling today for his first time even though Spring is here. I knew we would probably find plenty of bare road, but I couldn't resist the opportunity to go out one last time from Skyline Sno-Park in the Mt Hood National Forest. We had fresh snow the day before and overnight, so I was hopeful to find at least a few miles of riding.

13
Apr
2013
jloomis

Snowmobiling near Mt Adams and A.G. Aiken Lava Bed

Picture of Snowmobiling at the Foot of A.G. Aiken Lava Bed on Mt Adams, Washington

Katie and I pulled the snowmobiles over to Mt Adams on Saturday for an exploratory trip. I wanted to see how much snow was around and maybe get up onto the A.G. Aiken Lava Bed on the South side of Mt Adams near the boundary of the Yakima Indian Reservation. The A.G. Aiken Lava Bed is just over one mile East of the popular South climb trailhead at Cold Springs campground. The weather forecast was not stellar, with high winds and snow showers predicted, but we hoped to at least find some fresh snow to ride on.

08
Apr
2013
jloomis

Petzl SUM'TEC Ice Axe Hammer Review

Product Rating: 
0
Picture of Petzl SUM'TEC Ice Axe Hammer, 52cm

Features:

From Petzl "A compromise between a classic mountaineering ice axe and an ice climbing axe, the SUM’TEC is a versatile, lightweight, technical ice axe. It is easy to use in piolet canne mode with its stainless steel spike and its slightly curved shaft. In climbing mode, the ALPIX pick (forged into banana shape) and the new TRIGREST handrest (adjustable without tools) ensure the efficiency required for technical passages, as well as bergschrunds, ice gullies, etc. Available in adze or hammer versions."